An expositon of all St. Pauls epistles together with an explanation of those other epistles of the apostles St. James, Peter, John & Jude : wherein the sense of every chapter and verse is analytically unfolded and the text enlightened. / David Dickson ...

CHAP. VI.

THe third proof of the Doctrine of Iustification freely by Faith in Christ, in that it conduceth very much to the promoting of Sanctity and Holiness.

There are two PARTS of the Chapter: In the first hee shews, that by Faith in Christ, or the Doctrine concern∣ing the free ground of Iustification, several wayes promotes endeavours after Sanctification; to verse 12. In the other part, hee exhorts those that are justified to follow after holiness; to the end.

Vers. 1. What shall wee say then? Shall wee con∣tinue in sin, that grace may abound?

2. God forbid: how shall wee that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

By answering an objection, which seems to arise from this Doctrine, hee sets down a confirmation of the Propo∣sition; That this Doctrine of Grace, or of Free Justifica∣tion, makes for the promoting of holiness. Some may say, Shall wee persevere in our sins, wee that are justified by Faith, that the grace of God may appear more abun∣dant, as this Doctrine of Free Justification, by the impu∣tation of the Righteousness of Christ, seems to intimate? Hee answers, by denying and rejecting: Far from us bee

such a thought. As if hee had said, They that are justifi∣ed by Faith, ought not to indulge themselves in any sin, but to endeavour after holiness: And this Proposition hee confirms by ten Arguments.

Argum. 1. Wee are dead unto sin, in as much as when wee gave up our names unto Christ, that wee might bee justified and sanctified by him, wee renounced sin, that wee might not have any more to do with it, than the dead have with the living. Therefore wee that are justified, ought not any longer to live in sin.

Vers. 3. Know you not, that so many of us as were baptized into Iesus Christ, were baptized into his death?

Argum. 2. Wee (as you know) which are freely justi∣fied by Faith in Christ, are also taken into the fellowship of his Death, by Baptism; by which Sacrament wee have bound our selves to die unto sin, and Christ hath bound himself unto us, to communicate the power of his Death, that wee might die unto sin. Therefore wee ought not to undulge our selves in our sins, but endeavour after holi∣ness.

Vers. 4. Therefore wee are buried with him by Baptism into death; that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so wee also should walk in newness of life.

Argum. 3. Our communion with Christ in his Death, is sealed to us in our Baptism, for the abolishing of the old Man of Sin, i. e. Not only that wee might bee bound to mortifie the old man, but also that wee might bee made certain concerning the mortifying and subduing of sin, by virtue of Christs Death. Therefore wee ought not to indulge our selves in sin, but endeavour the mortifying of it.

Argum. 4. As our communion with Christ in his Death is sealed to us in our Baptism, so also in his Resur∣rection; that as Christ was raised from the dead, to a blessed and immortal life, by the glory of the Father, who powerfully raised him; so should wee endeavour by Faith, applying the virtue of Christ, to arise from sin, and to walk in newness of life, to the glory of the Father powerfully renewing us. Therefore ought wee not to con∣tinue in sin, but follow after holiness.

Vers. 5. For if wee have been planted together in the likeness of his death, wee shall bee also in the like∣ness of his resurrection.

Argum. 5. Drawn from our spiritual and neerest union with Christ by Faith, which union is the ground of the communication of that virtue which flows from the Death and Resurrection of Christ; for by Faith wee are planted into Christ, as the Branch into the Vine, and this in∣grafting brings us into that conformity with the Death and Resurrection of Christ, that wee dying unto sin, Christ dying, and following after newness of life, Christ rising again, may bee clearly seen in a certain likeness to himself. Hence hee confirms his former Argument; when wee are planted together with Christ by Faith, wee are so neerly united to him, that there follows of ne∣cessity a conformity with him in his death, to the mortifi∣cation of sin, and in his resurrection, to newness of life. Therefore unless wee will acknowledge no union with him, and implanting into him, wee must renounce all sin, and endeavour after holiness.

Vers. 6. Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might bee destroyed, that henceforth wee should not serve sin.

Argum. 6. From that judicial union which wee have with Christ crucified. The force of which Argument, that it may bee seen, four things are to bee maintained. 1. That Christ hanging upon the Cross as our Surety, su∣stained our persons before Gods Tribunal. 2. That hee under-went the punishment due to our corrupt nature, or the old man, so called, because the evil of nature in those that are regenerated waxeth old, and hastens to destruction. 3. That hee took upon him to slay the old man in us. 4. In that hee took upon him to represent our persons, wee are thereby obliged to labour after mor∣tification of sin by his Spirit, that after Justification wee should no longer serve sin. From hence the Argument, wee know, or believe that our old man is crucified ju∣dicially with Christ, to this end, that in us who are justi∣fied by Faith, might bee weakned the body of death, (so that filthiness of habitual corruption, compacted, as it were, into one monstrous body, prepared with all its mem∣bers to actual sinning) that wee should no more, after wee are justified, serve sin. Therefore wee ought to endea∣vour the mortification of sin, unless wee will cast away the Faith of our judicial union with Christ, hanging upon the Cross.

Vers. 7. For hee that is dead, is freed from sin.

Argum. 7. From the fruit of this union with Christ dy∣ing on the Cross; whosoever is dead to his old Lord sin, is justified and freed from the yoke and dominion of sin, that hee might not serve it any longer, nor obey the com∣mands of it: You may assume, But wee are justified by Faith in Christ dying for sin upon the Cross, wee are dead to ••our old Master Sin, therefore wee are justified and freed from the yoke and dominion of sin, that wee should not any longer obey its commands; for what ser∣vice can sin further exact from us, whom Christ in his death upon the Cross hath slain, as it were?

Vers. 8. Now if wee bee dead with Christ, wee be∣lieve that wee shall also live with him.

Argum. 8. If wee die with Christ, i. e. are united to him dying, in his power endeavouring to mortifie sin, wee need not doubt but wee shall live a spiritual, new and heavenly life with him; therefore it behoves us to endea∣vour the mortifying of sin.

Vers. 9. Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead, dieth no more, death hath no more dominion over him.

Argum. 9. Confirming the former; Wee believe that Christ rose to an immortal life, neither is hee for ever hereafter lyable unto death, but alwayes living; hee both will, and is able to perpetuate in us a new life, that death may no more have dominion over us. Therefore as wee do not believe in vain, that by his power wee shall live a new and eternal life, so ought wee to labour, that the new life, to which wee have risen with Christ, may bee continued, not to suffer sin should any more prevail, or have dominion over us.

Vers. 10. For in that hee died, hee died unto sin once; but in that hee liveth, hee liveth unto God.

11. Likewise reckon yee also your selves to bee dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God, through Iesus Christ our Lord.

Argum. 10. As Christ died but once to wash away and abolish sin, and rising from the dead, hee lives for ever to the glory of God; so you that are justified, by argu∣ments of Faith gather, and reckon your selves in the death of Christ to bee once dead, nor to bee obliged to dye for sin any more; that yee were once dead by the dethrone∣ing of sin, neither are yee bound to serve sin any longer; that yee were once dead to the destroying of sin, nor can yee bee destitute of the strength of Christ to mortifie sin, but in his resurrection yee are bound to live unto God, or the glory of God, and that yee might so live, yee have strength and help enough by Jesus Christ our Lord. Therefore the Doctrine of free Justification by Faith, is so far from opening a door of liberty to sin, that on the contrary, nothing is more effectual and conducible to the promoting of Sanctity and Holiness.

Second Part.

Vers. 12. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal bo∣dies, that you should obey it in the lusts thereof.

The second part of the Chapter follows, wherein the Apostle infers, out of what went before, an exhortation to all that are justified by Faith, that they follow after

Holiness. The Proposition to bee proved is the same with the former, viz. They that are justified, ought not to continue in sin, but labour after Holiness. Hee produceth thirteen Arguments, whereof the three former are inclu∣ded in the following Exhortation.

The branches of this Exhortation are three, and the Arguments as many, couched in the Exhortation, to the confirming of the Proposition.

The first branch of the Exhortation is, that they would not obey sin, by indulging the sinful lusts of the body.

Argum. 1. The first Argument is this; To obey the sinful lusts of the body, is to suffer in your mortal body the reign of sin, or of the Devil, from whence yee are freed, which they that are justified should tremble at. Therefore being now justified, you ought not to follow af∣ter sin, but holiness.

Vers. 13. Neither yeeld you your members as instru∣ments of unrighteousness unto sin, but yeeld your selves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteous∣ness unto God.

The second branch of the Exhortation is, that they would not fight for this Tyrant, viz. sin, making use of the faculties of their souls or bodies as servants to con∣tend for it, wherein is the second Argument: To serve sin, is to yeeld the faculties of the Soul, and members of the body, as weapons of iniquity to fight for sin and the Devil against God, and our own Salvation, which all that are justified ought to abhor. Therefore they that are justified, ought not to serve sin.

Yeeld] The third member of the Exhortation, that they would yeeld themselves Souldiers and Servants unto God, who hath freed them from death, wherein is the third Argument. God hath called you back from death in sin, and Eternal Perdition, unto Life, that you might bee Servants unto righteousness, and might contend for God against his enemies; therefore ought you to labour after Holiness.

Vers. 14. For sin shall not have dominion over you; for yee arae not under the Law, but under Grace.

Argum. 4. If you contend and fight against sin, the Tyrant shall not recover his dominion over you, which hee hath lost, neither shall sin reign over you, but you shall become Conquerours through Christ; therefore ought you to labour after Holiness.

For you are not] Argum. 5. Confirming the former, you are not under the Law, under the Covenant of works, wherein the Commandment exacted strict obedience, but affords no strength to assist in our obedience; but you are under Grace, or the Covenant of Grace, wherein the Grace of God, with the Command, confers life to Be∣lievers, and strength to obey; therefore certain of the victory against sin, yee ought to endeavour after Holi∣ness.

Vers. 15. What? then shall wee sin, because wee are not under the Law, but under grace? God forbid.

Hee repeats and rejects the absurd objection of Liber∣tines, who take occasion from the grace of God to sin more freely, when the contrary follows, viz. because wee are under grace, therefore wee ought not to indulge to our selves a liberty of sinning.

Vers. 16. Know you not, that to whom you yeeld your selves servants to obey, his servants yee are to whom yee obey, whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

Argum. 6. Serving by the way to confute the objecti∣on; seeing there is a necessity that you bee servants to him whom you obey, and that you receive a reward pro∣portionable to your work, whether you obey sin, or the Divine Commands, unless you will bee accounted the servants of sin, and will receive the reward of eternal death, it behoves you to beware that you indulge not your selves in sin, and if you will bee accounted the Servants of God, that you may bee pronounced Righteous, and Heirs of Life, of necessity you must labour after Holi∣ness.

Vers. 17. But God bee thanked that yee were the ser∣vants of sin: but yee have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered to you.

Argum. 7. By the grace of God, the time of your bondage is past, in which you were servants to sin, before your regeneration, and now converted, you have begun to yeeld sincere obedience to the Gospel, the impression whereof you have received as from a print: Therefore to return to the service of sin, or to depart from the sound Doctrine, is unworthy, but it behoves you to per∣severe in your obedience to the Doctrine into which you were delivered.

Vers. 18. Being then made free from sin, yee became the servants of righteousness.

Argum. 8. Being now freed from sin, by the Omnipo∣tent Arm of God, yee are servants of righteousness to holiness: Therefore by the Law of servitude, being ser∣vants to righteousness, yee are bound to become servants also unto holiness.

Vers. 19. I speak after the manner of men, because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as yee have yeelded your members servants to uncleanness, and to iniqui∣ty, unto iniquity; even so now yeeld your members servants to righteousness, unto holiness.

After his excuse of his homely similitude, which in many things holds no proportion with these spiritual things, yet notwithstanding the Holy Ghost is pleased to use, because of the infirmity of the Romans, for the sake of those that were carnal, which could not so easily apprehend an higher, or more spiritual way of speaking: Hee repeats the exhortation, and addeth:

Argum. 9. You have sometimes yeelded your members unto uncleanness, and have been altogether servants to unrighteousness; therefore now 'tis fitting, that with e∣qual industry at least, you yeeld your members servants unto righteousness, and to holiness, not to bee less studi∣ous of doing well, than heretofore you have been of sin∣ning, and doing ill.

Vers. 20. For when yee were the servants of sin, yee were free from righteousness.

Argum. 10. Confirming the former: When you were servants of sin, yee were free from righteousness, for you were not at all servants unto righteousness: Therefore now 'tis equal, seeing you are the servants of righteous∣ness, that you should bee free from sin, and not at all servants unto it.

Vers. 21. What fruit had you then in those things, whereof yee are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.

Argum. 11. You have gained no other fruit for your former sinful course of life, but shame, which is now up∣on you, nor could you expect any other fruit for the fu∣ture but eternal death, which is the end of sin; There∣fore it behoves you to beware that you serve sin no lon∣ger.

Vers. 22. But now being made free from sin, and be∣come servants to God, yee have your fruit unto ho∣liness, and the end everlasting life.

Arg. 12. After you gained your liberty from the bon∣dage of sin, you became servants unto God, and have your fruit unto holiness, encreasing and abounding dai∣ly therein, at length you shall obtain eternal life; there∣fore ought you diligently to follow after holiness.

Vers. 23. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life, through Iesus Christ our Lord.

Arg. 13. Confirming those which went before, after this manner; Whatsoever hath hitherto been spoken in this Argument, is sufficient and firm; for it is decreed by a Divine Sentence, to render a reward to sinners accord∣ing to their deserts, which is eternal death; and to be∣stow

life eternal, with Justification and Sanctification, which are chained to eternal life, not of debt, but freely of his grace, and that no way but in our Lord Jesus Christ: Therefore ought wee not to continue in sin, lest wee perish, but with Faith in Christ wee must joyn the practice of holiness, which holiness with eternal life, God will freely give to those that believe in Christ, and follow after holiness, as it is largely proved before.